School crossing gate



June 2, 1964 J GUERCQ SCHOOL CROSSING GATE Filed July 12, 1962 INVENTOR. John J. Gzwrco FM, WaW

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,135,062 SCHOOL CRQSSING GATE .lohn J. Guerco, Steubenville, @hio, assignor to Child Trafiic Control o., Steuhenville, ()hio, a firm Filed July 12, 1962, Ser. No. 209,382 Claims. (Cl. 39-76) The invention relates to school crossing gates and the like, and more particularly to a barrier pivotally mounted for selective vertical and horizontal movement, and is especially directed to safety latch means for holding the barrier in vertically and horizontally adjusted positions.

The increasingly heavy automotive traffic of modern times has made it necessary that protective means be provided for the control of traffic on city streets and busy highways in the vicinity of school buildings.

It has become general practice to appoint student traffic monitors or junior police, usually under the supervision of an adult police officer, to control trafiic at such crossings by means of hand flags, poles and other tratiic control devices.

The most satisfactory type of traffic control device so far produced is a movable barrier similar to a railroad crossing gate, which may be moved alternately across a street or highway to halt vehicular traffic, or parallel to the curb line to hold students on the sidewalk until it is safe for them to cross the street or highway.

The present invention contemplates certain improvements upon such school crossing gates, comprising generally safety latch means for automatically latching the gate in the vertical and horizontal positions to which it may be moved.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a single latch means which locks the gate in horizontal position, and simultaneously locks it to the post or standard in either of two predetermined positions 90 apart.

A further object of the invention is to provide a school crossing gate of the character referred to in which the latch means is in the form of a spring-loaded pin.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of latch means of the character above referred to in combination with additional pivotal latch means for holding the gate in vertical position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate of this character which may be used by schools, churches, industries, contractors, toll roads, parking lots and any other place for pedestrian safety.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved school crossing gate in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a safety gate embodying the invention, showing the gate in horizontal position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the gate showingit in horizontal position, and showing the gate in broken lines moved to a position 90 from the full line position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33, FIG. 2;

' FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of the gate in vertical position, showing in broken lines the gate in horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the gate in vertical position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6, FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 77, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on the line 88, FIG. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of 3,l35,%2 atented June 2, i964 ice the invention illustrated, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, the device is mounted upon a post or pedestal 1 which may be supported in upright position in any usual and well known manner.

An enlarged base may be formed upon the lower end of the post 1, so that the entire structure is easily portable, or the lower end of the post 1 may be temporarily set into a suitable socket in the sidewalk, or pavement, from which it may be easily removed when desired.

The gate structure includes two housings in the form of casting or forgings, designated generally as the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3. The lower housing 2 includes the depending sleeve portion 4, rotatably mounted upon the top of the post 1, and which merges upwardly into the U-shaped portion 5 having parallel legs 6 which are flared upwardly, as best shown in FIG. 4, and joined by the web 7.

A ring cap 8 is formed in the upper end of the U-shaped portion 5, in vertical alignment with the sleeve 4, to receive the upper end of the post 1. The upper edges 9 of the parallel legs of the U-shaped portion 5 are substantially horizontal, as best shown in FIG. 4, and a notch 16 is formed in the upper edge of One of said legs at a point spaced from the web 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end 11 of the web 7 extends slightly above the upper edges 9 of the parallel legs 6, for a purpose to be later explained. A spaced pair of ears 12 are formed upon the closed side of the 'U-shaped portion 5 of the lower housing and provided with apertures 13 therein for a purpose to be later explained.

The post 1 is provided with apertures 14 and 15, which may be located at an angle of apart as shown, and the U-shaped portion 5 of the lower housing is provided with an aperture 16 adapted to selectively register with either of the apertures 14 or 15 as desired.

The upper casting, indicated generally at 3, includes the spaced parallel side walls 17 joined at one longitudinal edge by the longitudinal wall, indicated generally at 18, having a tubular portion 19.

The gate proper, or barrier, indicated generally at 20, is formed of two elongated tapered arms or strips 21, preferably formed of wood, which are attached at their base ends to the parallel side walls 17 of the upper hous ing 3, as by the bolts 22 and 23. The bolt 22 is shown as forming a pivotal connection for mounting the upper housing 3 upon the lower housing 2.

The outer ends of the strips or arms 21 forming the gate 20 are connected together, as by bolts or screws 24, and a flag, banner, or the like, having suitable warning sign thereon, is connected to the free end of the gate, as indicated at 25 in FIG. 1.

The tubular portion 19 of the upper housing 3 extends beyond one end of the side walls 17 of the housing, as indicated at 26, and has a flange 27 thereon with perforation 28 adapted to be aligned with the perforations 13 in the flanges 12 on the U-shaped portion 5 of the lower housing 2, as best shown in FIG. 6.

A handle 29, which may be in the form of a metal tube, has one end located within the tubular portion 19 of the upper housing 3 and connected thereto as by the bolt 30. A box 31 is formed on the outer side of one side wall 17 of the upper housing 3 and a locking pin 32 is slidably located through apertures 33 and 34 in the outer and inner walls, respectively, thereof.

A tapered coil spring 35 is interposed between the outer wall of the box and the shoulder 36 on the pin 32, so as to normally urge the knurled head 37 of the pin against the outer wall of the box 31 and project the inner end of the pin through the aperture 34 in the inner wall of the box 31 and through the aperture 16 in the U-shaped portion 5 of the lower housing 2 and into either aperture 14 m n) or 15 in the post 1 to hold the gate in horizontally adjusted positions, which may be at 90 to each other, as best shown in FIG. 2; or to project the pin 32 into the notch It! in the upper edge of one of the parallel legs 6 of the U-shaped portion of the lower housing 2, to hold the gate in vertical position, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8.

When the gate is in vertical position, it may be locked in this position by a locking pin 38, padlock or the like, as indicated in FIG. 6, located through the apertures 13 and 28 in the flanges 12 and 27.

When the latch pin or padlock 38 is removed, the gate may be moved from vertical to horizontal position, by pulling out on the head 37 of the pin 32 to move the end of the pin 32 out of the notch in the upper edge of the legs 6 so that the gate may be lowered into horizontal position.

As an extra precaution, a safety latch 3? may be pivoted between the parallel side walls 17, as by a bolt 40 located through the tubular portion 41 of the latch 39. The lower end portion of the latch 39 is provided with a tongue 42 adapted to engage over the upper end 11 of the web 7, when the gate is in vertical position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

This will prevent the gate from falling accidentally from vertical position when the locking pin 32 is released, making it necessary for the operator to manually release the latch 39 in order to lower the gate.

When in horizontal position, the gate may be located in either of the two positions 90 apart, as best shown in FIG. 2, by rotating the lower housing 2 upon the post 1 and engaging the latch pin 32 in either opening 14 or in the post, as desired.

From the above it will be obvious that a simple, efiicient and easily operated school crossing gate is provided having safety lock means for automatically locking the gate in either vertical or horizontal position, and which permits the gate to be adjusted radially upon the post and selectively located in any desired horizontal position.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety gate construction including a post, a lower housing having a depending sleeve portion rotatably mounted on the post and a U-shaped portion having upwardly flared parallel legs and an inclined web joining the outer ends of said legs adjacent the upper edges thereof, an upper housing comprising a spaced pair of parallel side walls, a longitudinal wall connecting said parallel side walls at one longitudinal edge thereof, a longitudinal tubular portion on said longitudinal wall, a bolt pivotally connecting the parallel side walls of the upper housing to the U-shaped portion of the lower housing, a barrier comprising a pair of elongated tapered arms, means connecting the larger ends of said tapered arms to the parallel side walls of said upper housing, means connecting the smaller ends of said tapered arms together, a handle connected to the longitudinal tubular portion of the upper housing for swinging said barrierin a horizontal plane radially around said post and for swinging the barrier in a vertical plane around said bolt, and a spring-loaded latch pin mounted on one of said parallel side walls, there being openings in the U-shaped portion of the lower housing and in the post for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted positions in a horizontal plane, and there being a notch in the upper edge of said U-shaped portion for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted position in a vertical plane.

2. A safety gate construction including a post, a lower housing having a depending sleeve portion rotatably mounted on the post and a U-shaped portion having upwardly flared parallel legs and an inclined web joining the outer ends of said legs adjacent the upper edges thereof, an upper housing comprising a spaced pair of parallel side walls, a longitudinal wall connecting said parallel side walls at one longitudinal edge thereof, a longitudinal tubular portion on said longitudinal wall, a bolt pivotally connecting the parallel side walls of the upper housing to the U-shaped portion of the lower housing, a barrier comprising a pair of elongated tapered arms, means connecting the larger ends of said tapered arms to the parallel side walls of said upper housing, means connecting the smaller ends of said tapered arms together, a handle connected to the longitudinal tubular portion of the upper housing for swinging said barrier in a horizontal plane radially around said post and for swinging the barrier in a vertical plane around said bolt, and a spring-loaded latch pin mounted on one of said parallel side walls, there being openings in the U-shaped portion of the lower housing and in the post for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted positions in a horizontal plane, and there being a notch in the upper edge of said U-shaped portion for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted position in a vertical plane, a latch pivotally mounted between said parallel side walls of the upper housing and having a tongue adapted to engage the upper edge of said inclined web to hold the barrier in vertical position when said spring-loaded latch pin is withdrawn from said notch.

3. A safety gate construction including a post, a lower housing having a depending sleeve portion rotatably mounted on the post and a U-shaped portion having upwardly flared parallel legs and an inclined web joining the outer ends of said legs adjacent the upper edges thereof, an upper housing comprising a spaced pair of parallel side walls, a longitudinal wall connecting said parallel side Walls at one longitudinal edge thereof, a longitudinal tubular portion on said longitudinal wall, a bolt pivotally connecting the parallel side walls of the upper housing to the U-shaped portion of the lower housing, a barrier comprising a pair of elongated tapered arms, means connecting the larger ends of said tapered arms to the parallel side walls of said upper housing, means connecting the smaller ends of said tapered arms together, a handle connected to the longitudinal tubular portion of the upper housing for swinging said barrier in a horizontal plane radially around said post and for swinging the barrier in a vertical plane around said bolt, and a spring-loaded latch pin mounted on one of said parallel side walls, there being openings in the U-shaped portion of the lower housing and in the post for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted positions in a horizontal plane, and there being a notch in the upper edge of said U-shaped portion for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted positions in a horizontal plane, and there being a notch in the upper edge of said U-shaped portion for receiving said spring-loaded latch pin for holding the barrier in adjusted position in a vertical plane, a latch pivotally mounted between said parallel side walls of the upper housing near the edges thereof opposite to said longitudinal wall, and having a tongue adapted to engage the upper edge of said inclined web to hold the barrier in vertical position when said spring-loaded latch pin is withdrawn from said notch.

4. A safety gate construction as defined in claim 1, in which the spring-loaded latch pin is located in a box mounted on said one parallel side Wall.

5. A safety gate construction as defined in claim 1, in which the longitudinal tubular portion of said upper housing extends beyond one end of said parallel side Walls, and coacting perforate flanges are formed on the extended end of said tubular portion and on said U-shaped portion of the lower housing, and a locking pin for engaging the 10 2,767,494

perforations in said flanges and holding said barrier in raised position.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Denny Oct. 31, 1933 Stafford Nov. 15, 1938 Staiford Nov. 4, 1952 Nutter Aug. 31, 1954 Peterson Oct. 23, 1956 

1. A SAFETY GATE CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A POST, A LOWER HOUSING HAVING A DEPENDING SLEEVE PORTION ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE POST AND A U-SHAPED PORTION HAVING UPWARDLY FLARED PARALLEL LEGS AND AN INCLINED WEB JOINING THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID LEGS ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGES THEREOF, AN UPPER HOUSING COMPRISING A SPACED PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, A LONGITUDINAL WALL CONNECTING SAID PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AT ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF, A LONGITUDINAL TUBULAR PORTION ON SAID LONGITUDINAL WALL, A BOLT PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE PARALLEL SIDE WALLS OF THE UPPER HOUSING TO THE U-SHAPED PORTION OF THE LOWER HOUSING, A BARRIER COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED TAPERED ARMS, MEANS CONNECTING THE LARGER ENDS OF SAID TAPERED ARMS TO THE PARALLEL SIDE WALLS OF SAID UPPER HOUSING, MEANS CONNECTING THE SMALLER ENDS OF SAID TAPERED ARMS TOGETHER, A HANDLE CONNECTED TO THE LONGITUDINAL TUBULAR PORTION OF THE UPPER HOUSING FOR SWINGING SAID BARRIER IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE RADIALLY AROUND SAID POST AND FOR SWINGING THE BARRIER IN A VERTICAL PLANE AROUND SAID BOLT, AND A SPRING-LOADED LATCH PIN MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, THERE BEING OPENINGS IN THE U-SHAPED PORTION OF THE LOWER HOUSING AND IN THE POST FOR RECEIVING SAID SPRING-LOADED LATCH PIN FOR HOLDING THE BARRIER IN ADJUSTED POSITIONS IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, AND THERE BEING A NOTCH IN THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID U-SHAPED PORTION FOR RECEIVING SAID SPRING-LOADED LATCH PIN FOR HOLDING THE BARRIER IN ADJUSTED POSITION IN A VERTICAL PLANE. 